What should I do if I am injured in a hit and run accident?
David Dinkins, the former New York City mayor, was recently sued by a bicyclist who claimed Dinkins struck him while driving in Manhattan and drove away. The lawsuit was filed in the state Supreme Court in Manhattan. In it, the 32-year-old bicyclist claims to have suffered serious injuries when 89-year-old Dinkins hit him as he was in the intersection, but instead of waiting for police to arrive or assessing the bicyclist’s condition, Dinkins kept on driving.
The former mayor has issued a public statement denouncing the claims. Dinkins stated he was driving his sick wife to the hospital at the time of the accident and did not realize he had been involved in a crash until a bystander informed him about a half-block later. At that time, he dropped his wife at the hospital and returned to the scene of the accident. There are conflicting reports as to whether Dinkins spoke to police or they had already left the scene.
Hit and Run Accidents Present Complications for Accident Victims
All drivers in the state of New York, and elsewhere in the country, have a duty to remain at the scene of any accident that inflicts injury or damage. Drivers in New York who leave the scene of a crash could be charged with leaving the scene of the accident without reporting. They could additionally face civil liability for the damages they inflicted on the accident victim. It can be difficult, however, for hit and run victims to file suit against the driver that injured them as their identity may be unknown.
If you are injured in a hit and run accident, your first step should be calling the police. Prompt and thorough investigations will prove crucial in apprehending the fleeing driver and gathering evidence in support of your later civil claim. You should then call a licensed New York car accident attorney. Your attorney will assist in the efforts to identify the driver that harmed you and build your case for compensation from the at-fault driver. If the driver is not identified, your attorney can help you pursue additional avenues for recovery. Although hit and run crashes have some added complexities, many accident victims can still successfully obtain financial compensation for their injuries sustained in these accidents.